New Year's Eve is a night of celebration, new beginnings, and parties! Often, there’s music, alcohol, and noisy countdowns involved. If you have been celebrating New Year’s Eve with friends or family for years, and it’s always been more of an adult-centered affair, it can be difficult to imagine how you can still make the evening special now that you have another tiny person to celebrate with.
It’s Not All About the Baby
Baby-considerate is different from baby-centered. Before you stress how to make this New Year’s Eve a night to remember, keep in mind that your baby won’t remember it at all. While thinking about your baby and their unique needs, you don’t have to plan the evening completely around them. Consider any traditions you’ve come to love, such as sharing a midnight kiss with your partner, and make an effort to maintain those traditions if possible. After so much of your life has changed with a new addition, keeping traditions when possible can bring a sense of normalcy and comfort.
Keep It Simple
What is fun and enjoyable may look a little different for you these days. Loss of sleep and the addition of new parental responsibilities could mean that a quiet night watching a movie with your partner is more appealing than going out for late-night drinks with your friends, and that’s okay! Don’t feel guilty for taking it easy this year (or any year!). It doesn’t make you “boring” just because your priorities and personal needs have adjusted. What’s most important is that you have a good time celebrating. Being overly exhausted or worried about your baby is not fun.
Celebrate with a Night In
Going out on the town can be an option, even with a baby, but some babies do better being on the go than others. If your baby is one that needs a strict bedtime routine, it may be worth it to find a trusted babysitter or celebrate from the comfort of your own home after you’ve put your little one to bed. Bonus about staying in: you don’t have to worry about driving late at night if you’re already home!
Bring the Party to You
Staying home doesn’t mean you can’t party! If you enjoy socializing and party planning but a night out isn’t very practical, it might be a better option to host an event yourself! Staying at your “home base” so you are available for your baby if/when they may need you can reduce stress and maximize party time. Even if you have to step into the other room to feed, change, or comfort your baby, you will still be in the heart of the action and not miss out.
Enjoy Some Bubbly
It is always important to remember to drink responsibly, but parents may need to be a little more responsible than most. If you go out, keep drinks to a minimum even if you aren’t driving so you can be fully aware of your baby and any needs that may arise. The same applies if you’re drinking at home. Your baby is relying on you for trusted care, so it is wise to keep your wits about you. Alternatively, be sure at least one trusted caregiver, such as your partner, will be sober so they can care for the baby if needed. If you are breastfeeding, follow your doctor’s recommendations on how much alcohol you can consume, how long to wait before breastfeeding, or whether or not you will need to pump and dump.
Make a New Kind of New Year’s Resolution
New Year’s resolutions generally focus on self-improvement; now that you’re a parent, there’s a whole new area for growth and development! Take some time to reflect on your parenting journey so far and think about what it might look like in the future. Keep goals realistic and attainable, and perhaps focus more on being excited to celebrate upcoming milestones rather than giving yourself tasks to complete or standards to meet. Parenting is all about flexibility and learning to meet your child where they are.
Remember that while your baby is a new person, becoming a parent means you are a new person, too! Be kind to yourself as you learn to fill this new role and recognize that progress, not perfection, is the goal. The best thing you can do for your baby is take care of yourself. A happy, healthy parent is a growing child's greatest gift.
